Genesis 24:50

_THEN LABAN AND BETHUEL ANSWERED AND SAID, THE THING PROCEEDETH FROM THE LORD: WE CANNOT SPEAK UNTO THEE BAD OR GOOD._ Then Laban and Bethuel answered. The brothers conduct all the marriage negotiations, and without consulting their sister. This usage, which prevailed in ancient times, particularly among polygamous families (cf. Genesis 34:12-13), still obtains among the Arabs. THE THING PROCEEDETH FROM THE LORD. Any one who has penetrated into the ruling principle of Laban's character can feel no difficulty in accounting for such an observation falling from his lips. It is nothing more than an echo of the language employed by the pious servant; and the sight of the nose-ring and the bracelets which had been presented to his sister rapidly led him, for whom gold had irresistible attractions, to join in the general feeling, that 'the thing proceeded

50._The thing proceedeth from the Lord_. Whereas they are convinced by the discourse of the man, that God was the Author of this marriage, they avow that it would be unlawful for them to offer anything in the way of contradiction. They declare that the thing proceedeth from the Lord; because he had, by the clearest signs, made his will manifest. Hence we perceive, that although the true religion was in part observed among them, and in part infected with vicious errors, yet the fear of God was never so utterly extinguished, but this axiom remained firmly fixed in all their minds, that God must be obeyed. If, then, wretched idolaters, who had almost fallen away from religion, nevertheless so subjected themselves to God, as to acknowledge it to be unlawful for them to swerve from his will, how much more prompt ought our obedience to be? Therefore, as soon as the will of God is made known to...

29-53 The making up of the marriage between Isaac and Rebekah is told very particularly. We are to notice God's providence in the common events of human life, and in them to exercise prudence and other graces. Laban went to ask Abraham's servant in, but not till he saw the ear-ring, and bracelet upon his sister's hands. We know Laban's character, by his conduct afterwards, and may think that he would not have been so free to entertain him, if he had not hoped to be well rewarded for it. The servant was intent upon his business. Though he was come off a journey, and come to a good house, he would not eat till he had told his errand. The doing our work, and the fulfilling our trusts, either for God or man, should be preferred by us before our food: it was our Saviour's meat and drink, John 4:34. He tells them the charge his master had given him, with the reason of it. He relates what had...

Verse Genesis 24:50. _LABAN AND BETHUEL_] These seem both to be _brothers_, of whom Laban was the eldest and chief; for the opinion of Josephus appears to be very correct, _viz_., that Bethuel, the father, had been some time dead. Genesis 24:28, Genesis 24:28. _BAD OR GOOD_] We can neither speak _for_ nor against; it seems to be entirely the work of God, and we cordially submit: consult Rebekah; if she be willing, take her and go. Genesis 24:58, Genesis

- The Marriage of Isaac 26. קרד _qādad_, “bow the head.” השׁתחוה _shâchâh_, “bow the body.” 29. לבן _lābān_, “Laban, white.” In this circumstantial account of the marriage of Isaac, we have a beautiful picture of ancient manners in the East, the living original of which the present customs of that cradle of mankind are a striking copy. Genesis 24:1 Abraham binds the chief servant of his house to seek a wife for his son Isaac among his kindred. The first movement in this matrimonial arrangement is on the part of the father, who does not consult his son, but the chief manager of his household affairs. Abraham is now a hundred and forty years of age, and Sarah has been three

EXPOSITION GENESIS 24:29 AND REBEKAH HAD A BROTHER, AND HIS NAME WAS LABAN. "White," whose character has been considerably traduced, the Biblical narrative not representing him as "a monster of moral depravity," but rather as actuated by generous imputes and hospitable dispositions (Kalisch). AND LABAN RAN OUT UNTO THE MAN, UNTO THE WELL. That Laban, and not Bethuel, should have the prominence in all the subsequent transactions concerning Rebekah has been explained by the supposition that Bethuel was now dead (Josephus), but _vide _Genesis 24:50; that he was altogether an insignificant character (Lange, Wordsworth); that firstborn sons enjoyed during their father's lifetime a portion of his authority, and even on important occ

THEN LABAN AND BETHUEL ANSWERED,.... The order of the words in the original is, "then answered Laban and Bethuel"; the word for "answered" is in the singular number, from whence it may be concluded, that Laban gave the answer in the name of Bethuel, he consenting to it, who might be an old man, and left the management of his family affairs to his son, who, Aben Ezra thinks, excelled his father in wisdom and honour; but Jarchi represents him as a wicked and impudent man, who took upon him to speak before his father: but some have thought that this Bethuel was not old Bethuel, the father of Rebekah, but young Bethuel his son, the younger brother of Laban and Rebekah, their father Bethuel being dead, as Josephus says, before observed; and this seems to be countenanced by Genesis 24:59, where they are represented as blessing Rebekah, and calling her their sister: and said, the t

CHAPTER 24 THE BRIDE SOUGHT FOR ISAAC _ 1. The commission to the servant (Genesis 24:1)_ 2. The obedience and prayer of the servant (Genesis 24:10) 3. The prayer answered (Genesis 24:15) 4. The gifts of the servant (Genesis 24:22) 5. The servant received (Genesis 24:27) 6. The servant's message (Genesis 24:34) 7. The commission and answered prayer stated ...

GENESIS 24. AT HIS MASTER'S COMMAND, ABRAHAM'S SLAVE BRINGS REBEKAH TO CANAAN AS A WIFE FOR ISAAC. The chapter has generally been assigned to J, but it is probably composite, and has been put together from J and E rather than from two J sources. Close scrutiny discloses features which negative its unity, but the combination has been skilfully effected and the story reads admirably. It is told with great literary skill. Feeling the approach of death, Abraham summons his senior slave and extracts from him a solemn oath, in contact with the organs which are the sacred seat of life, that he would not take a Canaanite woman as wife for Isaac, but would bring one from Abraham's own country. If the woman would not come, he was by no means to defeat God's purpose by taking Isaac to her. God would prosper His mission, but if the woman would not come, the oath would bind him no longer. After takin...

The Betrothal of Rebekah 29. _Laban_ Rebekah's brother Laban (cf. Genesis 25:20; Genesis 28:2; Genesis 29:5) takes the part of the chief representative of Rebekah's family. Bethuel, their father, is mentioned along with him only in Genesis 24:50; and their mother in Genesis 24:53_; Genesis 24:55_....